Air delivery container



Nov. Z3, 1948. A. B scHuLTz l lAIR DELIVERY CONTAINER Filed April 23, 1945 FIG.

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR B. SCHULTZ /-//5 ATTORNEY.

A, BfscHuLTz AIR DELIVERY CONTAINER Nov.- 23, 1948.

2 sheets-shame Filed April 25, 1945 mvENToR. ARTHUR a. SCHUL rz Y DU m5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 23, 1948 AIR DELIVERY CONTAINER Arthur B. Schultz, Wilmington, Del., assignor to All American Airways, Inc.,` a corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,813 ,s claims. (el. 244-138) This invention relates to containers employed in air delivery service and is concerned primarily with a container that is designed for handling delicate and fragile cargo.

At the present time air pick-up and delivery service is becoming more and more widespread in its use and with the termination of the war it is believed that this service will be greatly expanded in the commercial fields. From the very nature of the service, cargo is delivered from a ying plane to the point of delivery without interrupting the flight of the plane. This means that the cargo is thrown off or dropped from the moving aircraft. v

While many types of cargo will withstand such rough handling, there are obviously many other kinds of a more delicate and fragile nature which would be greatly damaged, if not completely .destroyed, if delivered in this manner by the presently available equipment.

With these conditions in mind that invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision, in air delivery equipment, of a container designed to receive and handle delicate and fragile cargo without injury or damage. In providing a cargo container of this type the invention proposes no change or departure from the present practice of throwing out the container. What the invention does provide is a container which accommodates or takes up the shock created by impact with the ground or by sudden opening of the parachute.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in air delivery equipment, of a cargo container comprising an outer casing, an inner casing, and means for absorbing energy as an incident to relative movement between the casings. In carrying out this idea in a practical embodiment the outer casing is designed with a uniform cross section and is hollow therethroughout. The inner casing is snugly tted within the outer casing for sliding movement and` is normally held in a suspended position at the top of the outer casing by strands of a synthetic plastic in an undrawn state which have the ability of absorbing l energy as they are being drawn. Thus, when the lower end of the outer casing strikes the ground the inner casing continues its downward movement which is gradually decelerated by the undrawn synthetic plastic suspension means.

A further object of this invention is the provision, in delivery equipment yof the character above identified, of replaceable means for suspending the inner casing within the outer casing. This means may take the form of the synthetic plastic strands above referred to and any attaching devices which may be associated therewith.

' In order for a cargo container of the character above indicated to function properly it is essential that the lower end of the outer casing strike the ground upon completion of the descent. This means that the container should assume and remain in a substantially `vertical position as it falls. Accordingly, a further somewhat more detailed object is the provision,v in air delivery equipment of the character indicated, of a stabilizing means for maintaining a container in substantially vertical position as it descends to the earth.

In carrying out this idea in a practical embodiment, two alternatives immediately suggest themselves. One of these is to employ a small drogue which is anchored to the upper portion of the outer casing, or the outer casing might be provided with fins which would cooperate with the air in maintaining the vertical position.

YUnder some conditions it might be desirable to provide on the bottom' of the container a shock absorbing element in the form of a small bumper.

.In view of this requirement a further object is the provision, in air delivery equipment, of a container for delicate cargo which includes at its impact end a bumper.

When a drogue is employed to maintain the vertical position this end .is accomplished but it still must be remembered that under many conditions appreciable cross winds exist and lateral components of movement are imparted to the container. In view 'of this condition, a further object of the invention is the provision,vin air delivery equipment, of a cargo container including a drogue for maintaining the container inta substantially vertical position together with a. grapplingelement or anchor which is carried at the end of a line that is secured to the connection between the drogue and the container. This anchor will first engage the ground and become effective against the effects of cross winds to cause th'e'lower end of the cargo container to engage the ground inthe manner desired.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted thoughts in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as a description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a container for delicate and fragile cargo which is designed for use in air delivery and which consists of an outer casing which encloses an inner casing which is movable therewithin and which is normally suspended within the outer casing by undrawn synthetic plastic strands which will absorb energy as they `are drawn. The stabilizing means which may take the form of a drogue is included to assure `the containers remaining in a substantially vertical position during descent and a ground engaging grapple or anchor :is included in the assembly to assure proper engagement of the lower end of the container with the ground under prevailing conditions of cross winds.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying .drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view taken as a vertical section through the container with the droguesho'vvn in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a view in .side elevation of a sligh modification, .and

Fig. 3 'is another side View showing the assem- .bly .as including .a ground'vengaging grapple. 'In this view dilerentfposi'tions of the container are depicted by .dotted'lines Reerring now "to the vdrawings wherein 'like reference characters denote' corresponding v parts and iirst'm'ore particularly to'Fig. '1, a container for' delicate .cargo is referred 'to in its entirety by thereference character C. The container C comprises 'an outer Vcasingll'll which is preferably cylindrical in shape. Atth'e bottom the casing "I 0 is closedby abottom closure'TI which may have the property of removability `incorporated by the U-shaped flange construction at I2. The upper end is similarly Aclosedby tcpy closure I3 which is .secured to the cylindricalwa'll by U-shaped flange construction corresponding to that shown `at i2.

The cylindrical casing IU may be made `from any lmaterial desired althoughthe invention has particularly in mind'the use of sonrecheap material which might 'be considered 'as expendable. Carboard or iberbo'ard vare good examples .of such material.

'Extending into the interior y"of outercasing Ill and securely anchored thereto are a 'plurality of headed -sftuds "Ill '.or a purpose Ito be vlater described. The number 'of these lstuds may lbe varied within a fairly widerange depending upon the particular conditions of usage to which the v container is to be subjected.

4lin inner Acasing I5 has ashapecorresponding to the outer casing Ill. k Thus itis also cylindrical in formation as it is adapted to have free sliding motion within .the outer casing I0. Mounted .on the exterior ofcasing 'I5 adjacent to the'l'ower end thereof are a plurality of 'headed studs |16 which .correspond to the studs I4. g

ll?.eplaceedile means for suspending the inner casing .IF5 within the outer `casing I!! is shown in the form of a strand Il! which is `inter-laced over .the studs .I4 .and .I6 to hold .the inner `casing l5 in a suspended position in .the upper .portion yof the outer ycasing I0. The natur-e and :properties of this strand Ill .-is a particularly important part of v 'g'ardiess foi which maiteriaiis vemployed it .should iff' necessary be treated so that it retains this ability to absorb energy as itis drawn. lThe strand "I7 should be Isuscr'apti-bl-e of atleast 100% elongation during 4drawing and `with "certain of mains xed at the point of engagement. `gradually changes the path of the container C 4 the'materials above noted, particularly undrawn nylon, this percentage will be greatly exceeded.

A drogue is designated generally D and comprises a canopy I8 formed with an opening I9 at the top of which canopy is connected to the outer casing II] by lines 20.

While the .operation and mode of .usage of the above described container `for delicate cargo is believed to'be obvious, it may be briey outlined by noting that the top closure I3 is rst removed to obtain access to the interior of the container. The (delicate or fragile cargo is now placed within .the inner .casing I5, and the strand l1 is, of course,

Aproperly .adjusted 4to suspend the container I5 in 'Thus at the moment of impact with the ground the lower end of the casing I0 rst engages the Vground. However, the inner casing vI5 continues its downward movement which is resisted by the 'tendency of the 'strands II to resist drawing.

Thuaiurth'er downward 'movement of the inner casing I 5 subsequent to impact lwith the' ground is 'gradually decelerated. Fig 1 shows in dotted lines an intermediate position of the casing I5 after *the strand 4'Ilhas been partially drawn.

Rieerrlng now more particularly to Fig. 2 it will "be noted that the bottom closure II is provided with a vsh'ock-absorbing element in the form of `a bumper 2|. This serves to take up part of the initlalimpact with the ground.

4'Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the container@ is connected to the drogue D by a slightly different form of connection. In this embodiment 0f the invention the lines 20 of the drogue are gathered in 'an eye 22 which is carried by a connection 23 projecting upwardly from the top closure lf3. An anchor line '24 is also connected to the eye '22 and at its lower end carries a vgro''und-engaging anchor or grapple 25. The form 'this might result -in serious damage .to the container and cargo therewithin as the lower end of the outer casing /I 'would not strike the ground 'with ya "downward fvertica'l impact.

However,-Fig. rS'shows the effectiveness of the 'anchor 25. 'It iirst engages the ground and re- This as it travels vfrom the straight line resultant of its lateral and downward components to a circularjmovement which terminates as the lower end of the casing Ill engages the ground under -`conditions comparable to straight vertical impact.

'While preferred specific embodiments of the invention fare -hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limitedto the exact constructions illustrated and `described 4because `various modications of these *details maybe provided in putting the invention into practicewithin the purview of ther appended claims.

What is claimed `is:

1.In delivery equipment of the character described, a container Ifor delicate cargo comprising an 'outer casing, an inner casing adapted for movement within said outer casing, and an undrawn synthetic plastic lament having the ability to absorb: energy as it is being drawn, suspending said inner casing in the upper portion of said outer casing.

`2. In air delivery equipment, a container for delicate cargo of the character described comprising an outer casing, an inner casing adapted for movement within said outer casing, and an undrawn nylon strand holding said inner casing in a suspended position in the upper portion of said outer casing.

3. In delivery equipment, a container for delicate cargo of the character described comprising an outer casing, an inner casing adapted for movement within said outer casing, and an undrawn polyethylene strand holding said inner casing in a suspended position in the upper portion of said outer casing.

4. In air delivery equipment, a container for delicate cargo of the character described comprising an outer casing, an inner casing adapted for movement within said outer casing, and an undrawn Vinyon strand holding said inner casing in a suspended position in the upper portion of said outer casing.

5. In delivery equipment, a, non-separable cargo container of the character described comprising a cylindrical outer casing, a cylindrical closed inner casing, means for holding said inner casing enclosed in said outer casing in a suspended position in the upper portion of the said outer casing and which means is capable of absorbing energy as said inner casing moves within the said outer casing, and a drogue connected to said outer casing.

6. In air delivery equipment, a non-separable cargo container of the character described comprising relatively movable inner and outer casings, means permanently suspending said inner casing completely enclosed within said outer casing until removed manually which means resists said relative movement, a, drogue connected to the upper end of said outer casing,

and a ground engaging anchor connected by a line to said container.

7. In air delivery equipment, a. container for delicate cargo comprising an outer cylindrical casing, an inner cylindrical casing adapted for movement within said outer casing, a strand of undrawn synthetic plastic holding said inner casing in a suspended position in the upper part of said outer casing, said strand having the ability to absorb energy as it is being drawn, a drogue, a connection between said drogue and the upper part of said outer casing, a ground engaging anchor, and a line connected at one end to said anchor and at the other end to said connection between said drogue and said outer casing.

8. In air delivery equipment, a container for delicate cargo comprising an outer cylindrical casing, an inner cylindrical casing adapted for` movement within said outer casing, a strand of undrawn synthetic plastic holding said inner casing in a, suspended position in the upper part of said outer casing, said strand having the ability to absorb energy as it is being drawn, a drogue, a connection between said drogue and the upper part of said outer casing, a ground engaging anchor, and means for operatively connecting said anchor to said container and drogue.

ARTHUR B. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 847,198 Maul Mar. 12, 1907 2,161,820 Kessenich June 13, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,077 Italy Sept. 21, 1939 428,895 France July 3, 1911 442,973 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1926 

